Take Advantage of These Quick and Easy Bean Substitutes

We've all been there. You're elbow-deep in preparing dinner when you realize the ingredient you thought was in the pantry isn't. You're now scrambling for a replacement with no time to run to the store.

Don't panic. Your kitchen is stocked with suitable substitutes — ones you might not have considered before. We often feel the need to precisely follow a recipe, when sometimes a substitution elevates the dish from good to great.

Perhaps the pasta you normally add to your chicken soup is gone. Now what? You can substitute beans for starches or meats in many recipes. Depending on the flavor combination you're going for, there are a variety of beans that could take the place of your missing ingredient quite well.

Going for a Italian or Mediterranean? Try cannellini beans or garbanzo beans.

You don't have to run out of something to start thinking outside the box. Add a little flair to your favorite recipes by making small changes. Next time you're putting together a pasta salad, replace half of the pasta with colorful beans. Use black beans to add an earthly flavor and red beans for a zestier flavor. White beans are a great complement to fresh tomato and chopped cucumber salad.

Swapping Commonly Used Beans

Chances are, you have a can or two of beans in your pantry. This week it might be red kidney beans and next week cannellini. It's not a bad idea to stock one or two of your favorite varieties just in case. But if you don't, here's a quick guide to substituting one bean for another when the need arises.

Meet Amanda Formaro

A mother of four, Amanda is a recipe developer who runs several different sites focusing on cooking and other topics. With more than 15 years experience creating content, her work has appeared in various media, including SheKnows.com, Family.com, Parents magazine, Redbook and Mixing Bowl magazine. Amanda Formaro is a third-party contributor to The Bean Life and is not an employee of Bush Brothers & Company.